Weather warning: Heavy rain forecast could lead to more flooding

Flooding in the centre of Whalley in the Ribble valley which was badly hit by last weekend's heavy rain. (s)

Published:12:12Tuesday 15 December 2015

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A second weather warning has been issued by the Met Office today as more heavy rain is forecast to fall at the end of this week.

Yesterday’s yellow weather warning for heavy rainfall on Thursday, possibly leading to still more flooding in areas already hit by recent deluges, has now been extended to include Friday and Saturday.

Warnings are now in place from the early hours of Thursday, December 17th, to 6pm that day as an area of rain is expected to move northeastwards across northern England.

“Some heavy and persistent rain is likely, primarily over the high ground of Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and there is a very low likelihood this may lead to renewed disruption from flooding in some recently affected areas,” said a spokesman.

“Rainfall totals of 20-30 mm are likely over the high ground with perhaps 50-60 mm at the most exposed sites,” added the spokesman. “This would usually not be of concern but, following recent severe flooding, these areas are more responsive to relatively small amounts of rain. There is therefore a very low likelihood of medium impacts from renewed flooding in some of these areas.”

Today a further warning for the same area has been issued by the Met Office running from noon on Friday, December 18th, until 11-45pm on Saturday, December 19th.

“A further period of persistent, and at times heavy, rainfall is expected to affect parts of northwest England from Friday afternoon and through Saturday, with the largest totals accumulating on areas of high ground,” said a spokesman.

“Please be aware of the potential for further localised disruption.”

The new warning comes as exceptionally mild and moist air will arrive across the UK through Friday from the southwest, remaining over the country for much of Saturday. The combination of the mild, moist air and some strong winds will lead to some heavy rain at times which could be particularly persistent over areas of high ground.

“Rainfall totals of 20mm are likely quite widely, with a chance of 60-80 mm over the most exposed sites,” added a spokesman. “There is currently a lot of uncertainty over how quickly this air mass will clear to fresher conditions from the west, leading to large uncertainties over these totals. Similarly to earlier in the week these rainfall amounts would not usually be of concern but following recent severe flooding, these areas are more responsive to relatively small amounts of rain.”